WAIHI STRIKE CASES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 47, 19 October 1912, Page 5

WAIHI STRIKE CASES.

: IA MAGISTRATE’S LENIENCY. 7MORE 'STRIKERS GAOLED. • I >MI ; jc! h • -J_ Hi r •!. r i .' / • Viu.tq (J&r Press (dissociation,) /i;l( r 1 i-i a iWailii, October ,18. ~ (Fuiitheiiicharges , of, using, insulting* language, in > the public streets, were !ieardi,before Mrf F.JVii (Fraser, S-i-AL, j Linton(Aloorq. pfiartr;ed\,)With (Using insulting language ,to . Fairfax and others,, pleaded not, guij,ty. four fitnesses ,iu supIport iof the fendant stated that it seemed that the .Government, police and, press were against him and his cause. The Magistrate said that "as there was only , *me charge preferred, and that the: offence had not been' repeated,'the' db- | fendant was only required to give his word that he would not repeat tno , offence, and on. this condition ho would (dismiss; the case., ~ T-h© defendant said -thatfit jwalnot a fair request,,in,,view ,*»f; hia Comrade. Smith not being given same chance,; The,: Magistrate <.pointed ,out that the charge, against. Smith was quite different, and was of. ,* much more serious character. , Defendant appeared to be obstinate and the Magistrate made a further appeal, '(j&iritihg but that he was only asking defendant for his bare word. In the previous case it had been urged by .offenders that they had objection to finding sureties. He was now only ] asking that they would give their I ' word that similar breaches of the law 1 would not be repeated. This applied to cases where only one offence was committed. Defendant made no response to the appeal and the Magis- 1 trate then ordered defendant to find a 1 ■urety of £SO in himself and another of £SO, or two sureties of £SO each- ! He explained that in finding sureties no money was required.. It'was only; necessary that the authorities should be satisfied as to the bona tides of , those finding sureties. Moore was i then taken in custody. i / Other charges of using insulting ’ language were preferred against Trios. Ross, Harold E. Miller, Jos. Rogers, Chas. Fitters. Samuel Thornally, Edward Michael Sarach Thos. Rowald, Arthur Collins and John Heath. In each case defendants pleaded not guilty. Evidence supporting the charges was given, but the defendants eacn in turn intimated that they did noc wish to call evidence in defence. Defendants declined the overtures of the Bench, and each of them was ordered to find a personal surety ot £SO and another of £SO to keep the peace for 12 months. The men were then taken to gaol and will later do sent to Mount Eden. Frederick Evans was also charged with using insulting language. He pleaded not guiltv. He was one of the number who had onh on one occasion committed an offence. The Magistrate made the same offer as ho had to others in a similar position—that was that he would dismiss the charge providing defendant gave his word that the offence would not be repeated. The charge against Evans was dismised on this understanding. ' David McKane, charged with follow-ing-up, thereby causing annoyance and offence, pleaded not guilty. Evidence supporting the charge was adduced. Defendant intimated that he had no desire to make any defence. The Magistrate said iie could only make the usual order; sureties of £SO in himself and another of £SO to keep the peace for twelve months. Similar charges against Chas. Opie, D. Maginmty, Chas. Gardiner, _ and , /Ed. Armstrong were adjourned till tomorrow morning. SERENADING THE PRISONERS. Waitii. October 18. The road and footpath in the vicinity of the gaol was crowded last night with women, who were engage I for the most part in serenading the imprisoned men (seventeen in all), who were taken into custody \ esterday for declining to give a promise not to repeat the offence with which they were charged, and others who had failed to find sureties. The new union band attended in the earlier part of the evening, and a number remained during the whole night. Included in the assemblage was a sprinkling of children in perambulators.